After Squires woman is killed in hit-and-run accident Sunday, officers are looking for answers

Julia C. Hicks, 73, of Squires was killed Sunday in an early morning hit-and run accident just south of Squires on N Highway in Douglas County, and officers are asking the public for help in uncovering details of the deadly crash. 

“We need your help. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a hit and run accident on N Highway at approximately 2 a.m. [Sunday] morning that resulted in the death of a Squires woman,” Douglas County Sheriff Chris DeGase posted on the department’s Facebook page Sunday. “The DCSO is in the process of reviewing surveillance videos and is requesting that one who may have seen anything or has surveillance video on N Highway between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 2 a.m., please contact the DCSO if you have information or have seen any vehicles between these hours. If you are responsible for this and afraid to come froward, now is the time.”

A family member told the Times Monday that Hicks suffered from dementia and had wandered from her home in a nightgown and slippers sometime around 11:30 Saturday night. 

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol crash report, officers believe Hicks was walking across the roadway on N Highway and was struck by an unknown vehicle, which left the scene. She was pronounced dead at the scene by Douglas County Coroner Rick Miller at 2:58 a.m. 

Anyone with information that could help lead to answers in the case is asked to call the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office at 417-683-1020. (See obituary, page A8.)